Larson to lead USA in Volleyball Nations League

LAUSANE, Switzerland, May 13, 2018 – Jordan Larson will captain USA when they begin their FIVB Volleyball Nations League campaign with home court advantage in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Larson has won two Olympic medals with the US – silver at London 2012 and bronze at Rio de Janeiro 2016 - and was part of the team that won gold at the Italy 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship. 

Karch Kiraly’s team take on Poland, Turkey and Italy at the University of Nebraska’s Devaney Center on the first week of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League, which runs from Tuesday, May 15 to Thursday, May 17. 

It is a place she knows well having studied and played for the University, which is located 45 minutes from her hometown Hooper. 

“It is awesome playing close to home in Lincoln,” said Larson. “We had the 2016 Olympic Qualifier (in Lincoln), and it was such a great atmosphere. We are excited to come back and get another opportunity to play in front of the Husker fans.

“This first section of the Volleyball Nations League is huge for us to get our crew back together and work out the kinks from everybody being out of the country (for their pro leagues). I am excited for our chances, and I am excited to be back.”

The 31-year-old Larson goes into the tournament in good form having helped Eczacıbaşı VitrA Istanbul win the CEV Cup. 

She is not the only player who knows the Devaney Center well. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes also represented the University of Nebraska and she is one of two liberos in the squad, along with Amanda Benson. 

“It really is a cool atmosphere to be in,” Wong-Orantes said. “Every view in Devaney is an awesome view. I know the Nebraska fans will be pumped up. I don’t doubt them for a second that they will show up to watch USA.”

Setters: Micha Hancock, Carli Lloyd

Opposites: Annie Drews, Kelly Murphy 

Outside Hitters: Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Kim Hill, Jordan Larson, Kelsey Robinson

Middles: Rachael Adams, Foluke Akinradewo, Tori Dixon, Lauren Gibbemeyer

Liberos: Amanda Benson, Justine Wong-Orantes 

The US will embark on an extensive road trip for the rest of the Volleyball Nations League preliminary round. The Americans travel to Toyota, Japan, to face hosts Japan, Netherlands and Belgium in matches held on May 22-24. For the third week, the USA take on the Dominican Republic, Germany and Thailand from May 29-31 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kiraly’s squad remain in Asia for week four, when they play China, Brazil and Russia from June 5-7 in Jiangmen, China. They conclude pool play on June 12-14 in Santa Fe, Argentina, against Serbia, Korea and Argentina.

The Volleyball Nations League Final Round will be played June 27 to July 1 in Nanjing, China. The top five teams in the preliminary round will join China to form the six-team Final Round field.